Adults
Bacterial infections cause tooth decay and gum disease. Some bacterial infections cause inflammation which results in gum disease or periodontitis. Periodontitis has been linked to chronic health problems like stroke, coronary artery disease, and premature low birth weight babies. Dr. Blanchard and her staff members take great care to identify and treat gum disease (periodontitis) and tooth decay early to help you keep your teeth, gums and smile healthy for a lifetime.
Children
The American Dental Association recommends that children visit the dentist for a well baby dental visit by their first birthday. Their website offers a tremendous amount of information and we encourage you to visit it at www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/jada/patient/patient_11.pdf
Dr. Blanchard and her staff pride themselves on providing positve dental experiences for all our patients but enjoy making a child's first visit to the dentist a fun and enjoyable experience. Should your child need dental treatment, Dr. Blanchard and her staff offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) as well as TV monitors in the operatories for a more relaxing dental experience.
Caregivers are responsible for ensuring their children practice good dental hygiene. Parents must introduce oral care early in a child's life—as early as infancy. The American Dental Hygiene Association states that a good oral hygiene routine for children includes:
Thoroughly cleaning your infant’s gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant cloth. This stimulates the gum tissue and removes food.
Gently brushing your child’s erupted teeth with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste (for children under the age of two use unfluoridated toothpaste).
Teaching your child to brush their teeth starting at age two or three; however, children need their caregivers to brush and floss their teeth until age seven or eight.
Regular visits with their dentist to check for cavities in the primary teeth and for possible developmental problems.
Encouraging your child to discuss any fears they may have about oral health visits, but not mentioning words like “pain” or “hurt,” since this may instill the possibility of pain in the child’s thought process.
Determining if the water that you serve at home is fluoridated; if not, discussing supplement options with your dentist or hygienist.
Ask Dr. Blanchard and staff members about sealant applications to protect your child’s teeth-chewing surfaces and about baby bottle and sippy cup tooth decay (www.ada.org/public/topics/decay_childhood.asp), which occurs when teeth are frequently exposed to sugared liquids.
Brushing & Flossing
BRUSHING
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small pea size amount of toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of all of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Brush your teeth atleast 2 times day to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque. Brushing after snacks is also recommened but if you are unable to brush, rinse with water.
- In the morning after breakfast
- After lunch or right after school
- After dinner
- At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. Also replace your toothbrush every 6 months or after being sick. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.
FLOSSING
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque. It is very important to floss between your teeth every day.
Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque. Wrap the floss around each side of the tooth in a C-shape to allow you to clean under the gumline. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. Since your body produces less saliva when sleeping, it is especially important to floss and brush before going to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.